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Sanming Tonghui · A Comprehensive Account of the Three Destinies
Geographical Correspondences of the Twelve Branches
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Zi is the Ink Pool. Zi lies due north, belongs to Water, and has ink's color, hence this image. A Zi-year chart favors a Guihai hour, called Water Returning to the Great Sea and Two Fish Swimming in Ink, certainly making a literary scholar.
Wu is the Beacon Tower. Due south, it belongs to Fire and Earth and has red and yellow colors, hence the name. Wu is also Horse, and a beacon tower is a place of warhorses and military Fire. A Wu birth benefits from a Chen hour: the true dragon emerges and ordinary horses become empty. It is called Horse Transforming into a Dragon Colt.
Mao is the Jade Forest. Mao is Yi Wood, due east, midspring in time, when things grow, its color like blue-green jade. Thus Jade Forest. A Mao year meeting Si or Wei hours images Rabbit Entering the Moon Palace and indicates great rank.
You is the Temple Bell. You belongs to Metal and is near Xu and Hai, Heaven's Gate. Bells are Metal; a temple bell sounds through Heaven's Gate. You is due west, and the temple is the western Buddhist realm. You seeing Yin is auspicious, called Bell Sounding and Valley Responding.
Yin is the Broad Valley. Yin is Gen's direction, and Gen Mountain. Wu Earth has Long Life here, making the meaning of broad valley evident. Yin's palace has Tiger; a Yin birth with a Wuchen hour is called Tiger Roaring and Valley Wind Arising, with authority resounding ten thousand leagues.
Shen is the Renowned Capital. Kun is Earth, boundless in extent, so only a renowned capital can illustrate it. Shen is Kun; the capital is where the emperor dwells. Ren Water is born in Shen, opposite Gen Mountain, so it is Water Encircling and Mountains Surrounding. A chart favors a Shen year and Hai hour, Earth and Heaven in Mutual Harmony.
Si is the Great Post Station, a place where people gather and roads communicate. Bing Fire and Wu Earth within Si provide the image. Wu Horse also stands ahead of Si, hence Great Post Station. A Si birth favors a Chen hour: Snake Transforms into a Light Dragon, forming the Thousand-League Dragon Colt configuration.
Hai is the Hanging River. Heavenly-River Water rushes without return, hence the name. Hai is Heaven's Gate and belongs to Water: is this not a hanging river's image? A Hai-year birth seeing Yin and Chen in day and hour is Water Supporting Thunder Gate.
Chen is the Grassy Marsh. A marsh gathers Water. Chen is next to the east and is Water's Storehouse, hence grass and marsh. Chen meeting Renxu or Guihai forms Dragon Returning to the Great Sea.
Xu is the Burned Plain. Xu's month is the ninth autumnal month: vegetation has withered and farmers burn and plow. Xu also belongs to Earth, hence Burned Plain. Thus Xu and Chen are both grounds the Noble Person does not visit. A Xu birth meeting Mao is called Spring Entering the Burned Traces.
Chou is the Willow Bank. Chou contains Water and Metal. A bank is Earth stopping Water, hence Willow Bank. A Chou person seeing Jiwei in the hour has Moon Shining on Willow Tips, an exceptionally superior configuration.
Wei is the Flower Garden. Why assign the garden to Wei rather than Mao? Mao is Wood at Flourishing, forming its own forest and wooded foothills. Wei is Wood's Storehouse, like walls built to protect flowers. The hundred flowers mean Wei contains mixed energies. A Wei-year person has the most excellent Double Flight configuration, as with Xinwei seeing Wuxu, the two stems unmixed.
Translator's note: The source's order is Zi, Wu, Mao, You, Yin, Shen, Si, Hai, Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei. All twelve images, hour conditions, and named configurations are retained. The ninth-autumnal-month phrase follows the supplied wording.
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